Members of the Executive Council of the Great IFE Students’ Union visited the Amazing Grace Hostel of the Maintenance Students’ Village to address the students concerning the recent hike in Accommodation fee.
Sequel to the visit, students residing in the Hostel have expressed their frustration over the increase in the prices of accommodation fees laid down by the management of the hostel.
In recent years, residents of the hostel, who are female students of Obafemi Awolowo University, have been made to pay hiked accommodation fees, which, within three years, had been increased from ₦230,000 to ₦320,000 per space.
READ ALSO: BVER Suites: Crisis Averted, Residents Call For Prayer
A student residing in the hostel since 2022, who prefers anonymity, she explained that during her first year in the hostel, she paid an amount of ₦230,000 and another amount of ₦20,000 for the accommodation fee and caution fee (as a new resident), respectively. In her second year, the management of the hostel increased the amount of accommodation fee to ₦250,000. She stated that the management increased it to ₦300,000 earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the management signaled by sending a message on their WhatsApp Group last week, the message listed the amount of money students who would be residing in the hostel would have to pay to renew their accommodation fee. “I saw on the group last week that the landlord has increased the rent to ₦320,000 again for people who’d be paying their rent this year,” the student stated.
She added that the management of the hostel fights and chases away students who are not in compliance with the new accommodation prices.
ICYMI: Mercy Olagunju Mounts Stage as The Third Inaugural Poet Of OAU
The Hostel Representative confirmed the increase in accommodation fee by an addition of over ₦40,000 to the initial price. She noted that the management has not yet announced the increment generally, instead, residents were informed individually as their initial payments approached the due date.
“Those whose rent is about to expire were texted and informed about the increment. But for this year’s rent, the least price is ₦230,000 for three in a room, and the highest is ₦450,000 for VIP self-con,” she said.
READ ALSO: Maintenance Residents Demand Urgent Steps Taken On Security
She further noted that students are faced with current economic challenges facing the country. “It’s very obvious that the increment is really uncomfortable for everyone,” she added.
In response to the students’ call for intervention, the Great IFE Students’ Union paid a visit to the hostel management to discuss the increase in the amount of accommodation fee in Amazing Grace Hostel.
READ ALSO: Tariff Hike: Maintenance Residents Groan Over Uncomfortable Electricity Policies
The Great IFE Students’ Union Public Relations Officer, Aka Daniel, while speaking with ACJOAU, noted that the Students Union leadership has advised the students to put their payment on hold until the management of the hostel reduces the amount of accommodation fee.
He said the Great IFE Students’ Union Executive Council will have a meeting with the management of the Hostel to ensure there is an affordable price for students.